Group: MEDIATION COMMITTEE

PUSHPA GIRIMAJI

PUSHPA GIRIMAJI, Consumer Rights, Columnist

Pushpa Girimaji is a renowned author, columnist, and specialist in consumer law, consumer rights, and consumer safety issues. With a career spanning over four decades, she has been a pioneer in consumer advocacy journalism in India, consistently writing about consumer rights issues in prominent publications such as Hindustan Times, Hindustan (Hindi), The Tribune, and Samyukta Karnataka (Kannada).

As an accomplished author, Pushpa has written a comprehensive book on consumer law, titled “Consumer Rights For Everyone” (Penguin Books India), and a monograph on “Misleading Advertisements” published by the Indian Institute of Public Administration. She has also produced and anchored television programs focusing on consumer rights issues.

Throughout her illustrious career, Pushpa has served on numerous expert committees, policy-making bodies, and organizations. Some notable positions include:

– Member, Consumer Advisory Council, Underwriters Laboratory, United States of America

– Member, Committee on Patient Safety, Lady Hardinge Medical College and SSK Hospitals, Directorate General of Health Services, Government of India

– Member, Empowered Committee of the Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Government of India

– Former Member, Advisory Committee, Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority

– Former Member, Board of Life Insurance Corporation of India; Executive Committee, Bureau of Indian Standards

Her dedication to consumer welfare has earned her several prestigious awards, including the Karnataka Rajyotsava Award, The Sanskriti Award, M.R. Pai Award, and the Chamelidevi Jain Award. In 2017, she received the Nari Shakti Puruskar award from the President of India.

PROF. SRI RAM KHANNA

Professor Sri Ram Khanna, Managing Editor, Consumer Voice

Professor Sri Ram Khanna is a renowned expert in consumer affairs, marketing, and international business, with over 33 years of experience in research, teaching, and advocacy. He served as the Head of the Department of Commerce at Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi till the year 2016 and currently is the Managing Editor of Consumer Voice magazine, which publishes comparative product testing results.

A highly acclaimed consumer activist, Professor Khanna has been instrumental in shaping consumer protection policies in India. He was a key contributor to the formulation of the Consumer Protection Act (CPA) 1986 and its subsequent amendments, including the recently enacted CPA 2019. His work has been recognized with the Indian Merchants Chamber Award for Consumer Protection in 2001.

Professor Khanna’s academic credentials include an (link unavailable) from Shri Ram College of Commerce (1975) and a Ph.D. from the Department of Commerce, Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi (1980). He also holds a degree in Law. His research expertise spans marketing, international business, consumer affairs, and food safety, providing a unique multidisciplinary framework.

As a consumer representative, Professor Khanna has served on several committees, including the Central Committee for Food Standards (CCFS) and The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) of the Government of India. He is a member of the Council of Consumers International (CI), London, which comprises over 250 consumer organizations in 110 countries.

Throughout his career, Professor Khanna has published three books and numerous papers in national and international journals. He has participated in and presented papers at various seminars, conferences, and workshops globally. His voluntary work, facilitated by the University’s liberal policy of social engagement, has focused on marketing research, consumer affairs, and consumer protection laws.

Professor Khanna’s leadership roles include Director at Consumer International, London, UK (2000-2007), LIC-Life Insurance Corporation of India (2001-2003), and Chairman of Board’s Committee on Review of Citizens Charter, LIC of India (2002-03). He has also conceived, designed, installed, and managed the software-driven National Consumers Helpline, operating from the Delhi University Campus from 2005 to 2014.

As Managing Trustee of VOICE, a voluntary organization established in 1983, Professor Khanna continues to work on food safety issues and advocate for consumer rights. His commitment to social impact and benefit has earned him recognition as a leading consumer activist in India.

MRITUNJAY KUMAR

Mritunjay Kumar serves as Director at FICCI Quality Forum, spearheading the organization’s training and consultancy division. With over 18 years of experience in project management, process consulting, management systems implementation, operational excellence, conformity assessment, and training, he oversees the portfolio’s overall management.

Prior to joining FICCI, Mritunjay worked at Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) for five years, handling management and process consulting assignments, including the award-winning “Sevottam” project for the Government of India. He began his career in IT education, managing large turnkey and e-governance projects in Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh.

Under his leadership, FICCI Quality Forum offers a wide range of services in quality management, life cycle assessment, public service delivery, and project management. Mritunjay has established a comprehensive training portfolio, covering elementary to expert-level courses on management systems standards, quality improvement tools like LEAN and SIX SIGMA, operational excellence, sustainability, and HR domains.

He has also launched a dedicated HR service vertical, facilitating best practice sharing through conferences, seminars, and knowledge/research papers. Currently, Mritunjay focuses on emerging concepts like Circular Economy and Life Cycle Assessment, positioning FICCI Quality Forum as a leader in these areas.

A Chemistry (Hons) graduate from Ranchi University, Mritunjay holds a Post Graduate degree in Information Technology and Management from All India Management Association (AIMA), Delhi. His expertise and vision continue to drive FICCI Quality Forum’s growth and excellence.

DR. PIYUSH KUMAR SINHA

Dr. Piyush Kumar Sinha, Director, CRI Advisory and Research

Dr. Piyush Kumar Sinha is a renowned expert in marketing, retailing, and entrepreneurship, with over 40 years of experience in teaching, research, advisory, and training. As the current Director of CRI Advisory and Research, he leverages his extensive expertise to drive business growth and strategy .

Prior to his current role, Dr. Sinha served as a Professor at the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) for 16 years, where he also chaired the Centre for Retailing. His academic credentials are impressive, having held prominent positions at IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, XIMB, and as Dean at MICA. He has taught at leading management schools in India, specializing in marketing and retailing.

Dr. Sinha’s research and publications are equally impressive, with over 60 publications, including a book on Managing Retailing, to his credit. He has also conducted training programs for senior managers in retailing, marketing, and sales, and has headed marketing functions for top companies, overseeing new product launches, media planning, and communication strategies.

In addition to his academic and corporate experience, Dr. Sinha has served as Advisor to the Rwanda-India Entrepreneurship Development Centre in Kigali, Rwanda, on deputation from the Government of India. He currently holds the position of Chief Mentor at the Start-up Village Entrepreneurship Programme (SVEP), a flagship program of the Ministry of Rural Development, GoI.

Dr. Sinha’s educational background includes a Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration and Management from Sardar Patel University, Vallabh Vidyanagar, and a degree in Business Administration and Management from the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad. His wealth of experience and expertise makes him a respected authority in his field.